Second dog killed in wolf attack

May 15, 2013

ATLANTIC MINE - A wolf fatally attacked a sled dog in Atlantic Mine, the second such attack within a month in the vicinity, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources confirmed Tuesday.

"We got this reported to us yesterday, sent an officer to the site, and he did confirm he felt it was a wolf that killed this animal," Brian Roell, DNR biologist, said today.

The 18-year-old, 60-pound retired sled dog was allowed to walk freely, and according to tracks in the area, the DNR believes it was a single wolf that made the attack. The rural property owner's name was not released as of press time.

"In this case we didn't have a carcass to look at, so we simply make the identification by wolf tracks," Roell said.

Another dog was killed by a wolf in Atlantic Mine on April 28, and according to Roell, farmer Rich Johnson was awarded a 30-day permit to kill wolves on his property. He successfully killed one wolf, and his permit is still active.

No other reports of wolf problems have been reported in the area.

The DNR encourages people to call only when wolves create a problem in an area, but because of the second attack in Atlantic Mine, Roell advises people to report even just sightings of wolves in that area.

The DNR office in Baraga can be reached at 353-6651, and the Marquette office at 228-6561.